Endpoint: Jeremy Hinks has the last word
This year, the August publication of the exam results led to the usual mix of media coverage. Reports started by celebrating with the successful students before swiftly moving on to bemoan the declining academic standards suggested by the increasing pass rates. It is a shame that students who have worked hard to achieve results in an academic system are then told, 'Well done... but it was much harder in my day'.
My sympathetic stance should not imply that seeking to improve the learning experience, while keeping intellectual expectations high, is unimportant. It is, yet the recipients of those completing A-level courses, particularly universities and employers, need to have realistic expectations and, if necessary, adjust their entry-level provision to accommodate the students who are a product of their time.
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.